Pensioners spendings on rent

Pensioners are being locked out of Brisbane’s rental market, according to new figures.

A report from National Shelter and SGS Economics containing the Rental Affordability Index revealed most postcodes in inner to middle Brisbane remained moderately unaffordable to unaffordable.

The report showed that single-pensioner households in Brisbane were spending up to 67 per cent of their income on rent.

Rent higher than 30 per cent of an income is deemed unaffordable.

“Too often we hear stories of pensioners who are left to choose between using the last of their income to buy food or medication once they have met their obligations for rent,” Ian Yates, chief executive of seniors advocacy body COTA Australia, said.